This may not be strictly an Autocad problem, but may be a Windows problem. I currently run Win 10, but this problem dates way back. Frequently, I cannot rename a folder. Usually it is because I have a file open in that folder. Once I close the file, I can rename the folder. However, with Autocad, even when I close the drawing, Autocad still seems to keep a file lock open on the drawing, so that I can't rename the folder. I have to close the Autocad program completely to release the lock.
The reason I believe this might be a Windows problem is that sometimes closing Autocad is not enough. I have to close File Explorer too and restart it before I can rename the folder.
Any ideas?
Solved! Go to Solution.
Solved by Alfred.NESWADBA. Go to Solution.
Turn off PREVIEW in file explorer, the preview make explorer "think" the file s open and once explorer "thinks" that you have to close it to make it "forget". Sometimes you can turn off preview, then select another directory and go back and its "forgotten" it was open, sometimes that doesn't work either. I leave preview off.
Hi,
>> The reason I believe this might be a Windows problem
No, this is specific to AutoCAD. It does not release a folder that was used previously as well as USB-sticks which also can't be unlocked as long as AutoCAD runs and has captured it once.
For folders it might help to open a file from a different folder and save it, then sometimes the first folder was releaed from locking, but it's only "sometimes", not always.
- alfred -
To solve this error Lock Folder Windows 10. I follow this tutorial Lock Folder Windows 10. please let me know. Is this right for me? Thanks
Hi,
>> please let me know. Is this right for me?
Not sure if that is a solution for you as you have not described what you tried and what does not work.
From the OP >>>post 3<<< in this thread here was the solution.
- alfred -
The so called solution posted here, i.e. to turn off Preview in File Explorer, does not work for me.
This is yet another example of laziness or incompetence by Autodesk. This bug has been around for decades, but as usual Autodesk never fixes it.
A couple of workarounds that work for me are:
1) Copy the file you cannot rename; 2) Then, strange but true, you can delete the original file even though you cannot rename it, then 3) rename the copy without having to completely close and restart Autocad just to rename a file.
OR if that doesn't work...
Try this one:
I wish Autodesk would look into this, I cannot delete an empty folder where I've worked on AutoCAD 2015 files until I restart my PC.
@Rockit_for_Revit wrote:I wish Autodesk would look into this, I cannot delete an empty folder where I've worked on AutoCAD 2015 files until I restart my PC.
1) AutoCAD2015 is dead to Autodesk, they aren't going to fix an old program they don't want anyone to use today in the year 2024.
2) That may be an IT issue as well, do you have an experience IT person to help guide you? If not, try a reputable computer shop in your area instead.
I have this issue everyday on my Autocad 2025 and Autocad 2024 and it is very annoying to go through to name the files and organize things but I have to jump through hoops to do this. It is a very asnnoying issue and I wish there was a solution for this problem.
I have tried to move the DWG out of the folder, close AutoCAD, force close AutoCAD services in task manager and nothing is helping other than restarting the laptop or signing out completely.
I also can't move the folder as it shows to be in use by another program. I even deleted the dwg from the folder completely and it still shows to have the folder in use. I am unsure what could be causing this.
This is only happening when I open a DWG from the folder I want to change, I close CAD completely and still have no way of editing the names of the folder.
P.S.
I work on a laptop and my files all reside on the server we host in office. I checked with the IT department and they have nothing stopping me from editing names of folders. As far as I can tell of the 50+ people running CAD here we only have a few of us having this issue.
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